Although now mostly vegetarian, in Victorian times, mince pies were made with beef and spices.
14
Robins on cards were a joke 150 years ago when postmen wore red tunics and were named after them.
20
The tradition of putting tangerines in stockings comes from 12th-century French nuns who left socks full of fruit, nuts and tangerines at the houses of the poor.
42
Popular belief holds that 3 wise men visited Bethlehem from the east bearing gifts. However there is no mention in the bible about the number of wise men who visited. Three gifts were brought - gold, frankincense and myrrh, but names commonly attributed t
101
Carols began as an old English custom called wassailing, toasting neighbours to a long life.
33
Gold-wrapped chocolate coins commemorate St Nicholas who gave bags of gold coins to the poor.
196
The "Urn of Fate" is part of the Christmas celebrations in many Italian households. The Urn of Fate is brought out on Christmas Eve. It holds a wrapped present for everyone. The mother tries her luck first, then the others in turn. If you get a present wi
-19
The world's tallest Xmas tree at 221ft high was erected in a Washington shopping mall in 1950.
82